My review of "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan"

Another historical fiction book review! I've just finished Lisa See's "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan". I had read See's "Shanghai Girls" a few weeks ago and was very impressed. This is the story of lifelong friendship, arranged friendship at that! In rural China in the 18th century, two young girls are matched at age seven to be old sames, friends for life. The story follows the girls journeys into womanhood, marriage, and motherhood.
See gives women the foreground in her stories, rarely even revealing the names of male characters. This is a book of the many hearbreaks faced by women Puwei China, where their only value was found in their ability to bear sons. I greatly enjoyed the friendship as the primary relationship and basis for Lily's story instead of family or romantic relationships. I just remember talking about this in French class a long time ago how romantic relationships sometimes take precedence over good friendships and we rarely see big movies with just friendships as the main dynamic. If you're interested in seeing a good example of this, check out French movie "My Best Friend" starring Daniel Auteuil. It's pretty silly, but I really liked how it was simply about finding friendship.

Back to the book review. This book not only discussed some customs such as embroidery and footbinding, but also the lost art of the language of nu shu, a calligraphy made by women for their own secret use. The secret fan carries messages in nu shu between Lily and Snow Flower during the entirety of their friendship.

Pardon the scatterbrained reviews. I just know that it's always easier for me to remember a book I heard about or was recommended than to go to the library with no plan in mind.